I mean, it's entirely possible that a historic quirk 300+ years ago leads to an increasingly distant relationship today.
It's definitely possible to intepret this the way Russia speaks about Ukraine - "They shouldn't even be a country *except for a historical quirk", but a charitable interpretation would be more along the lines of "things could have gone slightly differently and we'd be countrymen, but instead we brothers from a different mother (country)".
tokai
No need to interpret. The exact same line colechristensen wrote has been used by Russias about Ukraine many times.
_verandaguy
After this past year of US political discourse, you'll forgive me for not extending the benefit of the doubt anymore.
jvanderbotOP
That is understandable but also unfortunate. Sorry from our side of the 49th
It's definitely possible to intepret this the way Russia speaks about Ukraine - "They shouldn't even be a country *except for a historical quirk", but a charitable interpretation would be more along the lines of "things could have gone slightly differently and we'd be countrymen, but instead we brothers from a different mother (country)".